(CNN) - He may not say 'bah humbug,' but that doesn't stop New Jersey voters from identifying their governor as Ebenezer Scrooge.

According to a new Quinnipiac University poll, more Garden State voters see GOP Gov. Chris Christie as Scrooge than Santa Claus. Fifty-four percent identify Christie with Scrooge; 28 percent associate him more closely with Santa Claus.
The Scrooge rating, however, comes mostly from Democrats. Seventy-one percent of Democrats see him as the cold-hearted Charles Dickens character. Forty-seven percent of Republicans see the governor as St. Nick.

There is also a small gender gap, with more women than men identifying him as Scrooge.

"At this Christmas season, Quinnipiac University turned to Charles Dickens and Clement Clarke Moore for inspiration," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "We seem to have inspired voters, especially Democrats, to say their governor could use a visit from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future."

The poll surveyed 1,276 New Jersey voters between December 14 and 19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.

Christie beat the Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine in 2009, and has since gained national prominence for his straight talk and tough decision making.

In order to close a large state deficit, the governor recently made budget cuts that included layoffs of state workers and a reduction in aid to public schools.

Another recent poll shows New Jersey voters are sharply divided over how Christie is performing in their state's top public job.

soundoff(112 Responses)

SouthJerseyGirl

Yep, the tunnel to Macy's basement could have created jobs. But who exactly was going to PAY for those jobs? There is NO money, the project was billions over budget before construction even began, and the NJ taxpayers already have the highest tax burden in the nation. Where was the money going to come from? The Feds said no, and Christie refused to raise our taxes even higher. Even if we ultimately have to return the 271 Million, that's better than the 4 or 5 BILLION in cost over-runs that we'd be responsible for. Stop whining about the lost jobs. The money was never there to pay for them to begin with, and I seriously doubt anyone would work for free.

December 24, 2010 09:22 pm at 9:22 pm |

mike

Size of Santa, attitude and actions of Scrooge. All in all a losing prospect for the people of NJ. Adding insult to the Jersey Shore injury.

December 24, 2010 09:24 pm at 9:24 pm |

Mike2

Let me get this straight – Christie makes sure NJ doesn't spend more than it brings in and THAT makes him Scrooge?

December 24, 2010 09:34 pm at 9:34 pm |

jack russell

Go Chris! Cut the government dole. Bash the idiots who think government is some sort of magical Santa on the heads.

It's that kind of Santa no limit spending that got this entire country into this mess. We need more Chris Christies in all major offices.

Go Chris, go.

December 24, 2010 09:51 pm at 9:51 pm |

GL

I heard he have his workers working one day a week and have them on call. I hope the voters got just what they wanted from this bully. I am so glad I do not leave in his state. Republicans continue to make the govenmerment the bad guy.

December 24, 2010 10:12 pm at 10:12 pm |

GL

It was Well Street and the tax cuts for the rich that cause this mess not the government, but leave it too the Republicans party and people like this fat boy to blame it on the government. But when there is a disaster in their state, they all want the government to help out.

December 24, 2010 10:15 pm at 10:15 pm |

Benjamin

I have a strong dislike for Christie, and even with that bias, I can see that this poll is ridiculous. What a stupid question to ask.

And enough of the 'out of money' comments. We have some of the lowest taxes of the western world; once we're out of the recession, it's time to raise them, rather than cutting spending necessary for the social good.

December 24, 2010 10:23 pm at 10:23 pm |

Granger

Shame of Cristy for trying to make the people of New Jersey be responsible adults and pay their way...T'Sah from Virginia typifies the OBama base; wanting something for nothing.

December 24, 2010 10:34 pm at 10:34 pm |

John Smyth

Controlling spending? Where were all the conservatives when Bush decided to dump a trillion dollars in Iraq? The GOP is the party of scrooge, money for the rich, nothing for the poor, because having the largest wealth gap since the 1920's, well, that just isn't enough, apparently.

December 24, 2010 10:52 pm at 10:52 pm |

malabar

Isnt money free? doesnt it just appear when dems will it? christie treats people like adults, dems are offended. go figure

December 24, 2010 11:08 pm at 11:08 pm |

Willy Brown

So all the entitlement freaks , couch bums, welfare and drama queens don’t like him because he tool away the gravy boat. Good!

December 24, 2010 11:14 pm at 11:14 pm |

Thatguy371

Of course the repubs don't think it, but anytime you kill a huge jobs project you also have the distinction of being an idiot. No money for the jobs project? Think up something, bond issue, sell some state property, something to make the jobs happen. Politicians do not normally know how to think outside the box. If European countries can figure out how to make things work correctly, U.S. states can also. Yeah I know the drill, NO MORE MONEY!, I understand that. What I'm saying is, make it work. The guy wanted the job, he should prove he's qualified. Add to that the guy is a pathetically fat baby blimp, and you have someone who is a ridiculous example for all the NJ kids.

Hope this guy runs for President. It is refreshing to see a politician actually do what is good for EVERYONE not just the Unions or other special interests. The only haters of this guy I know of are the unions because they cannot just bully their way into getting whatever they want. It will no longer be tolerated when the public employee unions are making more than the private sector tax payers that pay their salaries. These people still have not come to grips with that fact and doubt ever will. Private business always right sizes during down times but the pubic sector does not. That is the fundamental problem and is being addressed now. The public employee unions can cry all they want but they do not have leverage any longer. Here's a tissue. Get over it!

December 25, 2010 12:18 am at 12:18 am |

heliocracy

@Christine, NJ and many other states are running out of money in no small measure because they have refused to tax their citizens, especially those who can most afford it. I'm certain that as a Republican, Gov. Christie is in favor of tax cuts for the rich, which causes a huge drain on state coffers. But also like most Republicans, he would much rather cut education and other spending which creates a better quality of life for all, instead of taxing those who can easily afford it. When you're old and the world is run by the kids we're failing to educate now, and you are sitting in endless traffic jams because there was never money to build proper roads, I wonder if you'll think that tax cuts were worth it?

December 25, 2010 12:24 am at 12:24 am |

JACKAPPEALS

This creature is so self involved that he turned back 5.8 billion which would have created hundreds of jobs while permanently upgrading rail and tunnel infrastructure in the otherwise aging and overcrowded transit systems on the Philly, NJ, NYC, Boston exurbia. Of course, this far seeing poobah is joined by new governors in Wisconsin and Minnesota who turned down federal money that would have been the first upgrade in rail service in the Midwest in 80 years. Of course, those who live in Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis/St. Paul would love to rely on air service – right, when trains can take you to the heart of the city. Rapid rail would have put in travel times completely competitive with air. God forbid this country overrules the mediocre – the latter long applauded by the GOP – remember Roman Hruska, a great senator.....not.

December 25, 2010 12:43 am at 12:43 am |

Jennifer

Christie is FABULOUS!! I love him and hope he runs for president. He will win by a big majority. There is a reason why the democrats hate him so much, he doesn't put up with any crap from the thug unions. It's about time the states started riening in those union pensions and wages. Why do the public workers get paid more than the private worker and the private worker pay their outrageous fringe benefits to boot? The freeloaders want everything from the private sector and when it's taken away they cry foul. Try standing on your own two feet public sector and quit whining. Christie has done for your state what all the liberals haven't even tried to do, get it economically stable. WE LOVE YOU CHRIS CHRISTIE!!! and have your back.

December 25, 2010 12:46 am at 12:46 am |

Edd

King Krispy Kreme has one political goal: to destroy New Jersey and make a name for himself on the national stage.
With Sarah Palin, John Boehner and this clown, you will have the new Three Stooges of the Republican Party in 2012!!

December 25, 2010 12:53 am at 12:53 am |

The Gov's bathroom scale

You NJ voters get what you asked for... You were lazy and didn't research what the fat man was all about. You listened to rhetoric and lame conservative talk radio and voted against your own self interest. You allowed the big mouths to demonize people who are just like you. And while we fight over the scraps, the wealthy of the state laugh at you. Wake up and educate yourself the next time you vote. Good luck with your higher property taxes and your skinned public services and underfunded public schools.

December 25, 2010 01:09 am at 1:09 am |

normajean

I am not from New Jersey and have only seen Governor Christie being interviewed on TV. I don't like him and am glad he's not running my state. He seems so full of himself that I would question his ability to care about his constituents more than him self. He does come over as a big bully and a "smart mouth". Good luck to the people of the fine state of New Jersey!!!
!

December 25, 2010 01:48 am at 1:48 am |

normajean

Some of you writers say that Christie is right because there is no money. If money is so badly needed, how come the Repubs managed to hold on to their huge tax break?That is over 7 million dollars that our administration does NOT have to work with!!!

December 25, 2010 01:55 am at 1:55 am |

RS

He is just trying to control spending. As others have posted, every level of gov't is in financial dire straits and budgets have to be brought in line.

I like the way he stood up to the teachers too. My mom is recently retired but worked for a state office (not on the East Coast) for 30 years which was unionized with teachers. The union fought for the teachers while the state employees were barely given a second thought.

I would probably vote for him if he ran for President.

December 25, 2010 01:57 am at 1:57 am |

Ssups101

How is showing financial responsibility being a scrooge? The fat lady is singing; the game of spend, spend, spend is over! Stop acting like spoiled children whose parents took their allowance away and help him pull your house into financial solvency.

December 25, 2010 02:20 am at 2:20 am |

Rich

This pig of a person has ruined everything in the state and cost us milllllllions in wasted money on top of taking money from the schools. How could the GOP tap this porky pig for a possible presidential run? He has clear ties to the mob, but that's not new right? Fat Pig

December 25, 2010 02:31 am at 2:31 am |

WeThePeopleOfVirginia

I have a hunch the same people whining Governor Christi is too tough would complain the moment New Jersey became Greece . . . keep up the great work Governor. It will be the work of the States bailing this economy out . . . not the Federal Government.